iPhone Bugs: Home Button not working?

Several of our readers (and one of our editors...) are reporting a bug where the iPhone Home Button does not always respond to single-click or double-clicks. It might be software related as most people seem to have begun noticing this problem after installing iOS 4.1. It was hoped the bug would be fixed in iOS 4.2.1 but no such luck. Other causes that have been considered include a hardware short or dust or lint getting under the button. Ally also mentions that it may be caused by the home button not being properly centred. Possible symptoms and fixes, after the break.

Senior Editor at iMore and a practicing therapist specializing in stress and anxiety. She speaks everywhere from conferences to corporations, co-host of Vector, Review, and Isometric podcasts, and should be followed on Twitter @Georgia_Dow.

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iPhone Bugs: Home Button not working?

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My home button failed totally out of the blue for no apparent reason. I tried all the fixes listed here including an iTunes restore (agonizing), but nothing worked. Here's what did: press the button with your thumb and rotate in a circular motion around the edge of the button with it depressed. Bam. Works again instantly like nothing ever happened. Seriously!

had the same issue, home button not working on a 6 month old iphone4.
sprayed compressed canned air in a circular motion around the home button for about 5-7 seconds and it totally fixed my phone!
hope it works for you!
good luck

I had this issue with my iPod touch 4th gen, i called apple service and since there isnt an authorized apple center where i live they sent me a box so i could send then my device and so i did, 3 days letter i get the box back with a new iPod touch, so far no problems and i must say the home button feels different and works perfectly

I have a 3G and I had this problem for a long time and it was getting really frustrating. Once I started to look up for solutions on the internet, in one of the articles there was a quick mention that a protective case can also cause such problem. Then I removed the case and thanks god IT WORKED!

Many of the so called "fixes" here, are BS and seem to work because of coincidence. From personal experience I learned that the problem is related to my jailbreak. What I suggest to anyone having this problem is:
1) Restore stock firmware to make sure the issue isn't caused by the jailbreak software / libraries. Some of them are hacks, you can't expect them to be as foolproof as the stock ios software. Besides you need to restore to stock anyway if you proceed with step 2
2) As soon as the problem returns while running stock firmware, it's 99% sure that it's a hardware issue: Get the device replaced.
Hope this helps people not to lose too much time on this issue!

I have an iPhone 4 that I got in November 2010. Just today, my home button randomly stopped working - I couldn't do anything. How I dealt with the problem: Let my phone run out of charge, connected it to my MacBook Pro, moved the home button in a circular motion for about 3-5 seconds. This fixed the problem, not sure why though. Try it, I was surprised.

had same problem. . unresponsive home button. . it would work rarely. . it was not a software problem. . I live in Thailand and there is no genius bar. . so i brought it to the shop and they took the phone apart and it was just and the material inside the home button was bent a bit. . they replaced it and the phone works perfect...

I just "fixed" mine by repeatedly pressing the button with the end of a ballpoint pen. About 50 times with moderate force. I am going with corroded contacts needing cleaning here. Saved me a couple hundred $.
Be careful, but don't be gentle.

This has started happening to my phone within the last couple of weeks. I keep doing the soft resets and that will clear it up for a little while and then it starts all over again. Sometimes it will recognize the home button on the fourth or fifth time I press it. I read about the dust possibly being an issue, but I've never had this problem before. I think it has something to do with the software. I'm going to try to keep the camera running in the background and see if that fixes it, for now. I really don't have the time to take it to an Apple Store, which is 2 hours away (unless there is traffic). At least I now know it's not just me experiencing this issue, which means that it definitely has something to do with Apple!

I've had my iPhone 4 10months now running the original 4.0iOS jailbroken and I've been having this problem on a daily basis. I used to do a screenshot which the home button recognizes oddly enough and it would work for a while after that. Now it doesn't even recognize that. So I just tried running the camera and it seems To be working. If doing these things make it responsive it's hard to imagine that it is hardware related. I would imagine that the best thing to do is return it and get a new one considering that 4-5 software updates have obviously not fixed the problem.

My home button stopped working about 2 weeks ago. After reading this blog, I upgraded to version 4.3.1 It is now working again. Weird and annoying. I'll spray it with air next. I hope this solves the problem. Fingers crossed.

Hello, All big problems with the 4, I've got mine for 1 month and the home button was not responding like it should and that for a mobile @749€!!!, taking it to an apple store is a disaster in Belgium, your out for several weeks!! as I found on the net it seems to be a big problem with the 4! so many broken home buttons, is it a bug or is it cheap hardware? I think cheap hardware, I do repairs on computers and mobiles and I found the home button of an iPhone cheap hardware, I don't think that a home button of a 4 should hold for years and years,it's build of a small thin bolded round steel piece and placed on a printed circuit with a copper dot separated by a copper border and that should make contact, good for ????times, I've my thoughts. I hope that the new 4 holds better hardware. Apple, do your best.

Same problem...just started acting up in the last day or so...had previously noticed when entering apps it would automatically exit the app as if I had hit the home key when I had not...just checked my warranty, it expires in less than 2 weeks...scheduled a apple cust service rep to call me tomorrow as I am 2+ hours away from Genius bar as well...I'm running non jb 4.3.3 never had this problem with previous versions...third iphone and first problem with home button...hoping that cust service will offer replacement as i'm thinking its a hardware issue

I have the same problem, I am on an iphone 4 with 4.3.1 and has had this since 4.1 I think.. It's worse on some days than others but in general REALLY annoying! I might go in to the apple store and have a chat with them... it seems strange though.. have anyone tried to reroll back to ios 4.0 ?

I had the same problem with my I4 for months now. Mine was slightly different. I can make the button work if i press really hard in a sort of angle. My fingers got used to pressing hard on the home button. What i did not realize is i was pressing harder and harder over a couple of months. I got another phone from my colleauge and his was so much easier to press. It is a hardware problem and they replaced my phone in 5 minutes upon showing them the problem. The guys there just had to press once on the home button and they know the problem already just to verify. I'm just worried if it happens again once my warranty is expired.

Just blow compressed air up through the opening buttom where the charge port is. After getting fustrated I used an air blower from work and it's perfect now. Im guessing lint and dust get on the contacts and mess with the connections.

I can't believe the slap-fix worked. I know mine is no software as the issue started within days of getting the phone, and a week or so after that i did a complete reintall (from factory settings) and still had the issue. I had the issue with all the various software updates too. Mine is definately hardware related.. i wonder how long the slap-fix will continue to work. I'm really disappointed in apple about this, it seems to be a very common problem and it really drives me crazy when the home button isn't working. It sounds like if i were to send it off to apple and get a new one, i'd probably end up with the same issue.

This particular problem started to happen to my IPhone 4 when before I updated to IOS 4.2.3. I notice I couldn't close out apps or multitask. When I open an app and try to press the home button to close it out it was not responding. I tried pressing the home button numerous times but nothing happen so I decided to update to IOS 4.3.3. Immediately after I updated to IOS 4.3.3 the home button begin to work again but now today I experienced the same problem again. I really need help to solve this issue.

I had the same problem up to yesterday.what i did was press home and sleep button together and wait for apple logo.when phone switches on turn off phone and switch your phone back on then sync your phone this worked for me

I have had this issue intermittently (In fact, I just had it a moment ago). I'm not sure what version of iOS I'm running, but I have not updated it in a bit. I was able to get it to work again by slapping the phone against my thigh. This leads me to suspect that this is a hardware issue (loose connection?). I plan to have my phone looked at, so, we'll see...

No way...
I just tried the blowing method first and it did not work. Then I tried the slapping method. I figured I was on cadid camera or just for laughs but damn if it did not work right away.
Go figure.

Spent an hour trying to turn my iPhone 3GS off...was getting depressed reading about all the possible ways to fix it, including CLEAN RESTORES, LIONS & TIGERS & BEARS OH MY. I arrived to this answer, figured, 'what the heck' and slapped my phone twice on my thigh (it felt great) and wouldn't you know it worked like a charm! Hats off to Mr. Ripple. I can go to bed now.

kay, i know your probably really sceptical, and you probably wont listen to this advice, but really, i hit it five times against my thigh after i tried EVERYTHING else, and it fixed it xD if for only temporarily, it worked !

I took the advice of two commenters and gently blew into the charging port for 1-2 seconds then pressed the home and power button until I saw the apple. Then I turned it off and back on once more and it seems to be working now

Maybe I'm not pressing down hard enough? ... :-/
I don't know, I think that might be the case w/me. I've been doing that for the past few hours and everytime it's regisitered both single and double clicks.

at 4.3.3 on iPhone4 and still have the issue. I've questioned if moisture from a warm pocket could be a hazard. I honestly just have to press it a little firmer and it will work. Really unfortunate though, considering the price of the device.

Try holding on to the power button, till u see slide to power off. Now release power button and press the home button at the pressure you would use on the home button. It should change to the icon springboard screen( with all the icons). It should work properly after that.
Took the advice from another discussion which i was trying to find. But try it anyway it worked for me. I suspect mine is a sofeware issue that made it seem like a hardware issue.
Try before sending it for repairs or replacement.

I had this issue on my iphone4 where just like that, my home button did not work unless I pressed really hard. The hard rest did not work. I read the dust consideration in the article, did like a 10 button quick press and then blew into the button. It works now.

i have had this issue for quite some time now, and it is NOT software related since i have had this happening since iOS 4.1 either that or because it was like 5 months old when i started getting this issue. that commentor that suggested slapping your iphone worked for me. this issue has been frustrating me a lot recently i might just go to the apple store to get it looked at, the thing is i dont want to get it replaced since it IS my first iphone and you know how that kind of pride is hard to lose.

SLAP! Just read this full thread, tried blowing a good few times - nothing worked - I was refusing to believe the slapping advice but after 4/5 sharp slaps off my thigh, bloomin' heck, it works! Kid you not, it didn't work after two goes on the back but another 2/3 on the front & it's worked. Unbelievable. Just do it.

Over the course of a couple of days my home button got the the point where it would not work at all no matter how many times and how hard I pressed it. I slapped it and it started working! Before, if I wanted to go from an app to the home screen, I had to shut my phone down and restart it. THAT DID NOT FIX IT, it just started up on the home screen so I was back to square one. We'll see how long the "slap" fix lasts.....

i completely had the same problem. I had my iPhone 4 for just 10 days and I have never dropped it or anything, but then suddenly, the home button went nuts! I tried slapping it on my thigh twice and miraculously, it worked! I just don't know if this works for a long time though, and I'm scared if it doesn't; I don't want to slap my poor iPhone every time it goes berserk; I feel like I'm just making the problem worse... ;(

I had my iphone 4 replaced twice in the past 2 months and it is still unresponsive sometimes! Really annoying!! I am wondering if apple even gave me a new phone!? They are making me think that they gave me a refurbished iphone because the home button is still unresponsive after replacing twice...

just bang it against your hand or something, simply looae connection of the hardware inside the phone. ny hone button wasn't working at all, and a good slap against my hand fixed the issue. if you are really iffy about hitting your phone.. take it into the store.

Slapping didn't work- but I'd already done it repeatedly on the steering wheel. Blowing didnt work. The power/home button worked not even a whole day. Squeezing did nothing at all. I haven't updated in awhile (exboyfriend has computer) and I don't know how to restore. I dropped it at work so it has damage on the back, ( I thought that was why it wasn't cooperating). To take or not to take to the apple store?

Happy Slapper wow! my iphone 4 was sticking all day and I was panicking. If it's 4 months old, and craps out now, how long will it last after the warranty is over. Slapping against my thigh worked. brilliant!

I can't stop laughing! First I tried blowing into the charger port. That didnt' work. Then I slapped it against my thigh twice (ouch!), and what do you know? that worked! Thank you for a fix and a laugh.

Just a note of caution to all of you "slappers" out there. I have been having this problem for a few months now, and have been gently slapping the back of my phone to get it to work, which it did. HOWEVER, all the repeated slapping weakened the glass to the point where the last time i did it, the glass on the back of my phone shattered in that specific spot :(

I have had this problem over and over - have restored it no less than 5 times. The restore solution only worked briefly - like a couple of days. So I did a search this morning and found these posts. I then tapped the phone against my leg a couple of times and now the home button works. I was kind of surprised but the solution works thanks! fingers crossed!

My home button has not been working all morning. I was about to take it in till I googled it. Tried blowing into the port, still didn't work.
Then I came across the slapping method. Slapped it a couple times and it works :)
Also before it was lagging a little but now it's even quicker.

I have been fighting with the home button for two weeks. When I came across this post I couldn't believe it. How it be! I gave a couple slaps on the thigh, now been working perfectly! Unbelievable! Thanks!

Mine has been doing this intermittently since I first got it in September. Today it started doing it really badly. Read this thread, whacked it against the palm of my hand and it's suddenly working more perfectly than when it came out of the box! Nice one!

My home button was stuck and my thumbs were killing. Tried many quick fix theorems and nothing worked. Also tried complete factory restores three times. Finally took it in and the man at Palo Alto Apple store was kind enough to replace it. Luckily it was under warranty so no charge. I'm happy again and my thumbs are healing.

OMG..!!!
At first I don't believe these comments here,i mean slapping my iPhone..?C'mon what's this ridiculous solution anyway,that's what i thought but ever since this home button issue already got my nerve i just give it a shot..AND IT WORKED..!!!

Unbelievable. I having been experiencing the same issue. I just upgrade to 4.3.3 hoping that it would resolve my home button not working. No such luck, but then I found this post. Gave the boy a slap on the thigh and all is good.

Guys all this slapping stuff really? I went to my local apple store. The guy pushed the button once it didnt respond so he gave me a brand new phone on the spot. We cleared mine and when i got home i restored from backup and hey presto shiny new phone nothing lost.. easy!

I know the bitch slap works but why not go and get a new phone? I took it to apple after restoring my phone, installing the new version of Itunes and every other possible excuse they would make....well guess what, I got a brand new phone....!

Just a note of caution to all of you "slappers" out there. I have been having this problem for a few months now, and have been gently slapping the back of my phone to get it to work, which it did. HOWEVER, all the repeated slapping weakened the glass to the point where the last time i did it, the glass on the back of my phone shattered in that specific spot :(

I figured the slapping can't be too crazy with all these people doing it.... My home button has quit working twice in the past 2 months. Slapping it against my leg started it right back up. Odd, but whatever works...........

I try not to slap, rather i rub around the home button few times, work for me. now best alternative to home button problem is install iOS 4.3.3 and enable multitasking gesture, resulting in less use of home button and less home button problem.

Slapped! I've kinda been doing it on my own but just read this, tried blowing it 0_0 which didn't work as I had tried before, but then slapped it a couple times and it worked... Seems like a solid solution but don't know what the real issue is...

You have to be kidding me... my thumbs are sore from trying to push down on the home button so many times and I simply blew into the charging port, slapped it on my leg and its now working!
Thank you, Thank you!

Amazing!!! I had this exact problem with my Iphone 4g several times now. At first, I will simply do a system restore but not until I came across this website talking about slapping the back of the phone or blowing into the charging port to get the home button to work. I tried slapping the back of the phone twice and BAM the damn home button suddenly work now. I am so happy now...thanks guys!!!!

Hi guys, just to let you all know I had this issue and my home button would only work like 20% of the time, so I took it to the apple store and the 'genius' said there is a problem with the software, Apple dont know when they will be able to fix it but they are in the process of doing so, but if your impatiant like me and if your under warrenty they will give you a new phone.
:)

I did the same as pressing around the home screen button after mine suddenly stopped working as well and now it's working again. Yaaaaay!! I was goin crazy cuz I kept having to power it on and off to close apps etc.

Pressed around the home button - nothing.
Blew into the charger slot - nothing.
Slapped it on my thigh twice. YES!! :) It actually bloody worked.
Saved me from throwing it out of the window in frustration...

Can I suggest that anyone else that has this problem, press the home button twice and see if all running apps pop up. If it does then hold down on one until it shows the X to quit it and then do the same with all the others. May not work for everyone but may save a couple of you slapping your phones like it's a spoilt child ;)

Actually this is the only method that's worked for me. This is what apple suggests on their website and for me it worked. I was going to send my phone back and give up my untethered jailbreak, when I decided to get rid of everything running in the task manager and restart the phone and now, so far for two days, it's running like new again. If you're jailbroken, you can use a cydia app called, "killbackground" and this will shut down everything in the task manager with one button push; if not you'll have to manually shut down each app, but remember to restart the phone after you do this. I'm sure some of you might be having hardware issues, but If not, definitely try this. I'll report back if I find that my phone has gone back to not working.

Man I was soo close to restoring my iPod and sending it in because I was SO sick of having to press so hard to get it to turn on. Or it thinking I double clicked when I pressed once. The only remedy I knew of before was holding in the home button super hard for 20 seconds, which only fixed it for like a minute. But I just tried the blowing and slapping, didn't work. Then I put the iPod between both palms and squeezed as hard as I could. It all of a sudden works perfectly.. I'm so glad I found this haha.

1.) Open any application
2.) Press and hold the power button until the slide to shutdown swipe bar appears.
3.) Release Power button
3.) Press and hold Home button Lightly until screen returns to icon screen
4.) Enjoy your functioning home button!!!

Please be sure to press the home button very lightly just passing the Click zone. If you press hard the home button recalibration will be inaffective and you will continue to have home button issues.
The slap technique is only a temporary solution as it jarrs the buttons original calibration out of spec.
Thank You,
Prboricua818

1.) Open any application
2.) Press and hold the power button until the slide to shutdown swipe bar appears.
3.) Release Power button
4.) Press and hold Home button Lightly
until screen returns to icon screen
5.) Enjoy your functioning home button!!!
This procedure recalibrates the home button after normal wear or heavy use.